Opinion: Budget 2017 expectations, unrealistic or achievable?

Oct 28, 2016 (LBO)- Gearing for the new budget in a few weeks time Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake is optimistic about Budget 2017. An equity buyout for Hambantota port is on the cards, and the second IMF tranche will be back on track, although continued support for SriLankan Airlines is likely, Karunanayake said, speaking to […]

Sri Lanka Central Bank to keep rates steady ahead of budget

COLOMBO, Oct 27 (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s central bank is expected to keep its key interest rates steady on Monday, a few days ahead of the national budget and the government’s five-year policy, analysts said. The central bank has already tightened its monetary policy stance three times since December, to fend off pressure on a […]

Sri Lankan rupee weaker; moral suasion caps fall

Oct 27, 2016 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee traded weaker on Thursday on importer demand for the U.S. currency with moral suasion by the central bank preventing a fall in both the spot currency and spot-next, dealers said. Rupee forwards were active, with the one-week trading at 148.15/30 per dollar at 0538 GMT compared […]

Low tax regime & capital allowances from 2017 budget: Sri Lankan PM

Oct 27, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s 2017 budget proposals will include proposals to introduce a low tax regime in the island coupled with a program of capital allowances, the premier said. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe making a special statement in Parliament today said these new proposals aimed at increasing investment and job creation. “Finance […]

Sri Lanka cabinet approves capital market strategy 2016-2020

Oct 27, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s cabinet has given the nod for the government to follow a five-year capital market strategy in order to attract investors, issuers, institutions and mediators, a statement said. “Although the capital market plays a major role in economic development and sustainable development in rising economies in the world Sri […]

”’ rank down one notch to 110: World Bank

Oct 27, 2016 (LBO) – The World Bank says Sri Lanka has dropped one place in the “Doing Business ” rank to 110, over the past year, but the island has made progress in two reform areas: starting a business and protecting minority investors. “The improvements, while important, were not enough to stop a decline […]

Sri Lanka to obtain USD75mn credit in SDR from World Bank

Oct 27, 2016 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to obtain 75 million US dollars as credit of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) from the International Development Association of the World Bank for the Social Safety Nets project. The project which will be implemented from 2017 – 2022 has been designed to improve the equity, efficiency and […]

Sri Lankan rupee steady in lean trade; stocks weak

COLOMBO, Oct 26 (Reuters) – The Sri Lankan rupee traded steady on Wednesday in a dull market as investors were reluctant to take positions, a day after a state bank sold dollars, capping the fall in the domestic currency amid seasonal importer greenback demand, dealers said. Dealers said moral suasion by the central bank on […]

Asia stocks slide after Wall Street losses, oil drops on glut concerns

SINGAPORE, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Asian shares tumbled in early trade on Wednesday, following in the footsteps of Wall Street, which pulled back on disappointing earnings, while the dollar inched down from a seven-month high and oil prices slid. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.3 percent. Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.2 percent, […]

Asia shares slip after Apple results weigh, dollar off highs

TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) – Asian shares edged down on Thursday after disappointing earnings from technology giant Apple dragged on Wall Street, while the dollar remained shy of this week’s nearly nine-month highs. Besides Apple, results and forecasts from some other major U.S. companies also weighed on U.S. markets overnight. The S&P 500 and the […]

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